Plug for electrical connections



\ J P'J EZ W,

June 6, 1933. R, w. DUNLAP 1,913,072

PLUG FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS Filed Aug. '7, 1930 ATTORN EY PatentedJune 6, 1933 UNITED STATES ROBERTW. pUnLAr, or WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA-PLUG FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS Application filed August 7, 1930. SerialNo. 473,663.

This invention relates to plugs for electrical connections. I

Great difiiculty has been experienced in finding the correct position ofthe prong terminals of an electric cord for application to a pair ofpassages in a plug which has been screwed into the usual socket in abaseboard of a room and this is particularly true where the light isinsufficient to make the openings or passages suificiently distinct. Anobject of the present invention is to provide some means on the plug andterminal which will indicate to-the operator the correct position of theprongs for insertion into the passages in the plugs.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plug andterminal having prongs for insertion into openings in the plug withflattened portions on both the plug and the terminal which may begrasped by the fingers in order that the terminal may be held in such aposition that the prongs will be readily forced into the openings in theplug.

This invention Wlll be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawingforming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understoodthat the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being asusceptibleof such changes and modifications which shall define no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in theappended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in perspective of the plug and terminal constructedin accordance with the principles of my invention applied to a socket,and

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a plugand terminal showing themethod for ready application of the terminals to the plug.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen thatanordinary plug 10 is employed which has the usual beading 11 at itsouter end and which is ordinarily grasped by the finger in screwing theplug into the usual socket 12 formed in the Wall 13 of a room. Thissocket is embraced by an opening 14 formed in a plate 15 which isconnected to the wall in any approved manner. The plug has the usualopenings '16 in which are located metal contact members 17.

It will be noted that the beading 11 is provided at diametricallyopposite points with flattened portions adapted to be engaged by thefingers and this will indicate to the operator the position of theopening 16. Instead of the flattened portions 20 any form of indicatingmeans may be employed for the purpose.

As shown in Fig. 2 these indicating members 20 are located atdiametrically opposite points and in a line which is at right angles toa line passing through the openings 7 A terminal 25 of the usual type isconnected to wires mounted in a sheath 26 and the wires are connectedbetween the prongs 27 and 28 and some electrical fixture.

The terminal is formed of insulated material and has a rim 30 withportions 31 flattened to correspond to the portions 20 of the plug 10 sothat when the members 20 and 31 are aligned the prongs 27 and 28 will bealigned with the opening '16 in the plugs It will be noted by thisconstruction that no difiiculty will be experienced in applying theprongs 27 and 28 to the openings 16'.

since it is only necessary that the flattened portions 31 which aregrasped by the fingers of the right hand and the flattened portions 20which are grasped by the fingers of the left hand will be properlyaligned so thatthe prongs 27 and 28 Wlll move into the openings 16 inthe plug 10.

It will be appreciated that while the flattened portions 'or indicatingmembers 31 and 20 are located in lines which are parallel to linespassing respectively through the prongs 27 and 28 and the opening 16,these indicators may be located in planes which are at right angles tothe position illustrated. It is merely sufiieient, however, that theregistering indicators be so positioned that r 20 which are 60 when theyare aligned the prongswill be in the proper position to be received bythe' openings 16.

Instead of the members 10 and 30 of the electrical connection havingopposite portions flattened, a single flattened portion or indicatingmeans may be formed on each I member so that when the indicating meanson said members have been aligned the prongs 27 and 28 will be in properposition to be received within the passages 17. on the other hand theflattened portions may be applied only to the member 30 so that whensaid member has been grasped, the operator will know the position of theprongs and will be able to readily insert the prongs Within the passages17 1 I claim:

A combined plug and terminal connection for electrical fixtures, theplug having spaced passages, the. terminal having prongs adapted to beinserted into the passages, the plug. and terminal being provided withflattened portions on the outer surfaces for alinement to determine thepositions of the prongs relative to the passages for facilitating theinsertion of the prongs into the passages, the flattened portions beinglocated inwardly of the contour of the plug and terminal in order toneatly receive the fingers of the operator.

ROBERT W. DUNLAP.

